The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-07
Col. j. B. Neriwether's Kecollections.

Louisville Courier-J Journal.
Col. James B. Meriwether, a prominent law
yer of Jeffersonville, IN speaking OF the case of
Kissane, who, having amassed q fortune under
an assumed name in California, is now seeking
to procure the dismissal of an Indictment for
forgery which was found against him in New
York many years ago, said to Courier-Journal
reporter. yesterday:
''In the year 1852 or 1853 I was a member of
the firm of Bright, Chapman & Meriwether. at
Madison, Ind Kissane, Chaplin, Rodgers, Hol-
land, and possibly others, pretended to load the
steamer Martha Washington, which they owned,
with goods, portion of them being merchandise
from Cincinnati. Rodgers, think. was captain.
The boat purported to be loaded with dry goods.
boots and shoes and leather, but was In reality
laden with boxes OF rubbish of various kinds.
A large amount Of insurance was obtained from
Cincinnati offices and agencies, and from the
Madison Insurance Company and the Firemens'
and Mechanics Insurance Company. both of
Madison. The Martha WASHINGTON was burned
just above Helena. the Mississippi river and
landed against the Arkansas shore. After the
boat was burned the insurance demanded
of them, and man by the name of Earl held
the policy against the Madison Insurance Com
panv. and brought suit in the United States
Circuit Court at indianapolis for the amount of
policy. We were employed to defend. The
several insurance companies selected Mr.. Tap
pam of New York, who was president Of the
Underwriters Association, to take charge of
their interests. and he was given almost entire
charge of the case. The Madison insurance
companies and the Cincinnati agencies employed
attorneys, and man named Burton in some
way became connected with the case as de-
tective / have it stated that he volun-
teered his services, but this was mistake. He
| lived at Ohio City, near Cleveland. Burton
seemed confident that a crime had been COM
| mitted. The first tangible clew that was OBJ
tanned by him was through young man named
| Filley who had been book-keeper for Chaplin
| in Cincinnati He was taken sick afterward
| and died. Burton always suspected that Filley
| knowledge which he nossessed of the affair.
| Filley's parents lived in Boston.
| am not certain whether he went
back to Boston, or remained in Cincinnati. At
all events, he made dying statement It was
| upon his statement that the parties to the crime
were arrested. There was trial at Columbus.
| o. My recollection now is that they were ar
rested on requisition from the Governor of Ar
kansas. and a writ of habeas corpus was taken
| out before Judge Mclean, of the United States
Supreme Court But, anyway. they were dis
charged. Kissane and his co-defendants had
| been indicted in Arkansas for murder &C.
count of the persons being burned on the Martha
| Washington. Holland escaped to Rio Janeiro
Brazil. Kissane was arrested for offense
in New York. and was convicted and sentenced
to the penitenfiary. Burton and myself had
been sent to Albany, N. Y, and, with Mr..
Tappan, saw Governor Clark. A proposal had
been made by Kissane's friends that he would
detail all the circumstances it he could be par
| doned. / am not now certain that he was par
doned, but my recollection is that Governor
| Clark agreed to pardon him, and that be was par.
doned. During the trial st Columbus
occupied the same room with Burton at the no.
| tel and two mornings a cocktail was sent
to his room. and each time he feared poison and
threw it in the fire. Burton told me that he
always suspected that Filley was poisoned. On
the trial of the suits at Indianapolis against the
Madison Insurance Company the deposition OF
Holland ordered taken at Rio Jaueiro
Brazil, and I went there for that purpose In
this deposition Holland confessed the whole
plot but the deposition never reached Indian
apolis 1t was lost IN transit, whether purposeiy
or not was never known. / had copy of tine
deposition but, of course, that could not be
used. Notwithstanding 1t was a certified copy
This failure. of course. neeessitated a eontinu
ance of the case, and we agreed to pay 10 pei
cent, and the suit dismissed the pay
meut. which was sufficient to defray their cost.
and attorneys fees. Whitney, the secretary o.
the Madison Insurance Company. went 10 Cincin
natl to attend meeting of the parties interested
in the policies, for the purpose of making a set
Element. and, among them all. they nearly bea
him to death. The persons who assaulted him
were supposed to be connected with the crime
He came back without being able to accomplish
anything. There were connected with the burn
| ing of the boat either two brothers named Kis
sane two brothers named Chaplin. / DON
remember which. Ny best recollection is tina
IL was two Chanlns, and man by the name o
| Henningsou. Another by the name of Cole Wa
very active in the matter IL is such a lon
time that cannot recollect the Christian name
of any of the parties concerned in the crime.
Burton died at Ohio City, o., and was sen
for to take his deposition. sort of dyin
declaration to perpetuate his testimony. Whe
got there he was at the point of death, and b
was just able to recognize me- He put out hi
hand and said poisoned or Il am poisoned
Burton always felt that his life was in danger O